Jean de Villiers has identified the area he believes the Springboks will target the All Blacks at Eden Park on Saturday.
The former Bok captain says the aerial game is where New Zealand are most vulnerable, after struggling badly under the high ball in their 29-23 loss to Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Speaking on the DSPN podcast with Martin Devlin, De Villiers said it’s a weakness the Boks are likely to exploit, particularly with wet weather forecast for Auckland.
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De Villiers compared the situation to 2009, when South Africa’s tactical kicking and dominance in the air laid the platform for three straight wins over the All Blacks and a Tri-Nations title.
“We had Fourie du Preez, who was fantastic as a decision-maker at nine, and his execution of the box kick was just brilliant,” he recalled. “Then you add Bryan Habana, who was always competitive in the air, along with JP Pietersen, who had that extra reach.
“Sometimes the lesser risk is putting it up there and making it a kick you can compete for. Once you’ve retrieved possession, then you keep the ball in hand.”
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With the current Boks boasting the likes of Cheslin Kolbe, De Villiers believes they are just as capable of turning the aerial battle into a weapon.
“It’s fair to say that will be a tactic this weekend again,” he said. “Kolbe might not be the biggest, but he gets so high in the air and competes really well. He makes life difficult for opponents.”
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Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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